Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"this way!"

"You..!!" his eyes widened for a second as he looked at her but then narrowed back as he looked at her with a death glare!

"Evangeline! Do you want to die?" he asked again and she frowned and shook her head, 

"Of course, I did not want to die. Why are you even asking such a foolish question!?" she asked densely as she knew that he was in her territory now. 

Leo had not brought any knights and the men standing there would help her if she would scream or shout or they would see him misbehaving with her.

That built up her confidence and she was sure that he would not misbehave in public places.

Looking at her eyes that were filled with gleam! He knew exactly what she was thinking. So, she did not respect me because she felt so but only because she had fear of losing her life and now that she could run away she was showing me her true colors. 

But instead of being angry, why did he feel that it was cute! Was he losing his brain and becoming crazy!?

"Hey, would you stop threatening her? Or my brother would beat you!" said the boy that only reached up to the waist of Leo as he snatched her hands away and stood in between.

He was looking at Leo as if he was a ruffian who often misbehaved with girls and needed to be taught a lesson.

Leo raised a brow as he looked at the small boy who was trying to intimidate him with his small frame and asked, 

"Do you even know how to fight?" There was a hint of mischief in his voice but his face still looked cold and intimidating. 

His hands swirled on the hilt of the sword as if he was trying to scare away the kid. Evan frowned and was about to intervene when Carl continued,

"Of course, I even have a wooden sword. I will be a strong knight one day. So, do not underestimate me!" replied the boy with arrogance that made Leo amused.

But before he could reply Martin came running and held the shoulders of Carl and pulled him towards him.

"I apologize for his misbehavior, my lord. The child was ignorant and did not know how to speak up." Martin bowed his head hard.

All this time since Evan and Leo were whispering to each other, he was trying to remember where had he seen the seal of the uniform, he was wearing and only now that he remembered it was the same seal as the higher knights who had come here a few times.

And by the look of his uniform, he must be at a higher position than them. He did not know how the man would react after being threatened even if the other party was just a kid.

"Carl, apologize now!" he shouted at his brother with a stern voice but the boy just puffed up his cheeks.

"Can you not see, brother. This man is trying to threaten our Evangi.. Do you still want to take his side? You are the strongest one in the town, go and punch him. Break his teeth so that he could learn some manners and how to treat women!" he complained as he pointed at leo.

"Pfft hahaha." 

"......" did that beat just called him a ruffian!?  And instead of clarifying the matter, this dumb girl is laughing her heart out. Leo stared at the girl with annoyance.

Felling the death glare from the man, Evan finally controlled her laughter but she still felt so great that he had been treated that way! From the day she had met him, he was ordering her as if he was her boss, now that he was rebuked, she felt great.

"Carl, I said, apologize!" Martin covered the mouth of the boy and looked at Leo with worried eyes.

"The boy is just spouting nonsense. Please do not mind him. Did you come here to ask for the crops. By any chance, did you want to buy grains?" asked Martin to change the conversation as he hid the child behind him afraid that Leo would hold grudges from the small kid.

After understanding his worries, Leo shook his head, "I am not the one who would think that I am equal to a kid and hold grudges." although he was talking to Martin, he was looking at Evan, as if telling that she was the one who kept holding grudges in her heart.

The smiling girl froze and then narrowed her eyes at the man but her actions only proved his point that she held grudges all this time.

"Yes! Thank you. I apologize for not greeting you properly and dare to look straight into your eyes, my lord." Martin bowed and looked at his brother with stern eyes who muttered something under his breath but mimicked Martin and bowed his head too.

"It is fine. After all, you are like a brother to Evan!" That was the first time Leo had called Even with her nickname that her face turned red.

"........" brother!!!!

"........" why was he talking like they have an intimate relationship between them?!

They both looked at the man with a stunned face who did not even blink as if he did not understand their thoughts but his eyes turned dark when he saw the stunned face of Evan.. was she feeling so stunned when he had called the man his brother?

Even their expressions were so similar.. Could it be that they were childhood sweethearts. His grip on his sword tightened at that moment while his face turned cold.

"That.. Martin, my lord has the habit of joking. You should not take his words seriously!" 

"......." My lord! Was he not Leo just a while ago? And how hasty she was in clearing the confusion. Was he the reason that she always wanted to reject him and come back to this town?